But Gwh''s voice suddenly turned severe. "I told you to eat. Didn''t you hear me? Take a bite of every dish first. I''ll eat after you''re done. If you won''t, then have them do it.” Gwh pointed at the other servants standing nearby, who exchanged confused and worried nces.


    Butler Parham finally understood. Mrs. Everhart was afraid the food was poisoned. A sense of rm washed over him. She was clearly traumatized, and deeply so. Realizing the gravity of the situation, he knew he had to inform Mr. Everhart. Her current state was bordering on mental instability.


    What on earth had happened between Mr. and Mrs. Everhart? Mr. Everhart had beening home on time recently, and even onte nights, he always went upstairs to be with her. Mrs. Everhart had been sleeping a lot, which the butler now understood was due to her pregnancy. A thought urred to him—could this be what people called prenatal anxiety? But her reaction seemed extreme. Why would she think the household staff would try to poison her?


    Gwh remained seated, not touching her fork, waiting for the servants to test her food. With a heavy sigh, Butler Parham waved the other servants away to prevent them from hearing more and starting to gossip. “Mrs. Everhart, if you are concerned, I will taste it for you. There is no need for the others. All of you, don''t just stand there. Mrs. Everhart needs quiet to eat, especially now that she''s pregnant. Please leave us. Don''t disturb her unless it''s necessary."


    He was only trying to help, but Gwh suddenly stared at him, her eyes glinting with a sharp, hostile edge. "Why are you sending them away? Are you trying to control me?"


    In all his years with the Everhart family, this was the first time his loyalty had been questioned by a member of the household. He felt a pang of hurt, but looking at Mrs. Everhart''s fragile state, his heart softened with a familiar sorrow. It reminded him of his own daughter when she had been pregnant.


    Butler Parham reasoned that Mr. Everhart''s absence at thepany was likely the cause, so he couldn''t me her. As a servant of the house, his duty was to ease his masters'' burdens. He dismissed her usation with a gentle smile. “Mrs. Everhart, if you have any doubts, I will not ask them to leave." He turned to the servants. "Come back, all of you. Stay with Mrs. Everhart."


    After a few moments of this tense back-and-forth, it was as if Gwh had been struck by a sudden realization, jolting her back to her senses. Hawthorne was the one at fault in this whole affair. How could she take her anger out on the staff, especially an old, dedicated butler like Parham? He was getting on in years, and his work for the family was not easy. Gwh could see that he waspletely loyal, treating Hawthorne like his own son.


    She sighed softly and apologized to the butler. "I''m sorry, Butler Parham. I wasn''t in a good mood just now."


    He waved it off. "Mrs. Everhart,


    please don''t keep your troubles


    bottled up inside. You can talk about


    them, or


    it


    of even take it out on us i helps. Just don''t make things harder on yourself."


    His kind words only made Gwh feel more ashamed. If it weren''t for the two little ones in her belly demanding to be fed, she would have lost her appetite for all of this long ago.


    "Mrs. Everhart, if you need anything, just call for me or one of the others," Butler Patham said before excusing himself from the dining room. He immediately called Hawthorne, his voice faced with helplessness when the call finally connected. "Mr. Everhart, I think Mrs. Everhart needs to see a psychiatrist."


    Hawthorne was on his way to see Patti. He was exhausted from a sleepless night and the day''s new problems. He held the phone to his ear, his voice low. "What is


    it?"


    A sharp turn ahead nearly caused a collision, snapping him back to full alertness.


    Butler Parham recounted the events at the house, and a dull throb started in Hawthorne''s temple. "I understand. I''ll deal with it when I get back."


    When he arrived at Patti''s hotel, she heard his knock and opened the door just a crack. Seeing it was him, she threw the door open and flung herself into bis arms That Mrs. Mercer... she terrified me


    The memory of nearly being beaten to death still haunted her. Hawthorne coldly


    peeled her hands from his neck, his words chilling. "It''s over now."